ALABAMA

The Alabama Museum of Natural History has an annual Museum Expedition Program that involves excavations at paleontological or archaeological sites. Call (205) 348-7550, or visit: http://www.ua.edu/academic/museums/history/wordpress/?page_id=14. The museum also has week long programs for children 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The weeks of July 8th and the 25th are "Shark's Tooth Creek Fossil" weeks.

University of Alabama Museums Moundville Archaeological Park has a Native American Festival from October 5-8 of 2011 that explores Alabama's Native American heritage and allows children of all ages to learn how scientists excavate and discover things about the Native Americans within the area while also learning how to make Native American tools, and art. More about the festival: http://moundville.ua.edu/?page_id=230

Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, managed by the Alabama Historical Commission, offers programs for school age children. Cahawba was once Alabama's state capital (1820-1826) and a thriving antebellum river town. It became a ghost town shortly after the Civil War. Today, it is an important archaeological site with picturesque ruins. You can explore a landscape of ruins and relics, hike the Clear Creek Nature Trail, stroll through the cemetery, or celebrate at the Old Cahawba Festival on the 2nd Saturday in May. Call (334) 872-8058 for more information or visit: www.cahawba.com.

Russell Cave includes a museum with artifacts and tools from Native American tribes and a demonstration on how these items are used. There is also Junior Ranger Program that children up to 12 years old can participate in. There are activities throughout the attraction that the child completes in order to receive a badge at the end: http://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm

Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is where you can visit the oldest State Archives in the country. Hands-on activities, using Native Alabama artifacts, are available to encourage kids to study Alabama's past. Call (334) 242-4435, or visit: www.archives.state.al.us

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